Airspace Development & Crane Controls

The prescribed airspace at Gold Coast Airport is protected under the Commonwealth Airports Act 1996 and the Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 1996.

These acts and regulations aim to ensure that:

• The airspace is obstacle-free for aircrafts to fly
• Air navigation and radar equipment can operate without interference
• Mitigation against windshear
• Airport lighting is not obscured

International standards have been adopted which define two sets of invisible surfaces above and around an airport. These surfaces form the airport’s prescribed airspace. These two surfaces are known as Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) and Procedures for Air Navigation Services – Aircraft Operations (PANS-OPS) surface. All obstacles (building/crane) activity with the potential to penetrate the OLS and/or PANS-OPS MUST submit the appropriate form for approval.

The OLS defines the airspace that is to be kept free of obstacles. These surfaces only relate to visual flight operations or the visual stages of an instrument flight. The purpose of the OLS is not to restrict or prohibit all obstacles, but to ensure that existing or potential obstacles are examined for their impact on aircraft operations and their presence is properly considered.

View the Obstacle Limitation Surface Map

PANS-OPS surfaces define the airspace related to aircraft operations that are reliant on instrument navigation. PANS-OPS airspace is not to be permanently infringed upon in any circumstances.

Any activity that infringes on prescribed airspace is called controlled activity.

View the PANS-OPS Map

Controlled activities are defined in s.182 of the Airport Act 1996 and include:

• Constructing a building or other structure that intrudes into the protected airspace
• Altering a building or other structure that intrudes into the protected airspace
• Any other activity that causes a thing attached to, or in physical contact with, the ground to intrude into the protected airspace
• The intrusions by cranes used during construction into the protected airspace
• The intrusions of rooftop vents, chimneys, aerials, antennas, lightning rods, roof top gardens plantings, exhaust flues etc.

Activities causing non‐structural intrusions:

Artificial light

• Reflected sunlight (Colorbond is an approved roof material with the exception of colours having solar absorbency lower than 0.35)
• Air turbulence
•  Smoke, dust, steam and other gases or particulate matter

The regulations on controlled activities differentiate between temporary (less than 3 months) and permanent. Temporary OLS penetrating controlled activities may be approved by GCA as a delegate of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications & the Arts (DITRDCA). Any permanent OLS or PANS-ONS penetrating controlled activity requires approval by the DITRDCA. Any permanent intrusions of the PANS-OPS surface are prohibited.

A person who carries out a controlled activity without approval commits an offence under Section 183 of the Airports Act 1996 and may incur significant penalties.

An airspace intrusion is any operation that has the potential to affect the prescribed airspace for the airport. This may include, regardless of height above ground, any mobile cranes, tower cranes, concrete pump, cherry pickers, buildings/structure, etc. within the controlled airspace. The developer must fill out the relevant forms listed below for any operation with the potential to affect the prescribed airspace.

Temporary obstacle intrusions must provide a completed assessment form at least 48 (business) hours prior to the proposed activity.

This form must include:

• Location including latitude and longitude
• Crane/obstacle operating height from ground
• Ground level at site (AHD)
• Operating times/dates
• Reasons for operation
• Lift plan (if required)
• Builder and crane operator contact details
• Ground level at site (AHD)

Permanent Obstacle Intrusion Approvals must provide the following information as part of an application for approval of permanent obstacle intrusion. The application should be submitted at least 2 months prior to the proposed construction.

This form includes:

• Location including latitude and longitude
• Building height (AHD)
• Ground level at site (AHD)
• Site address
• Commencement times/dates
• Lift plan
• Builder and crane operator contact details

View the Combined Obstacle Application form here

If the application results in an intrusion to the OLS or PANS-OPS surface the airport is required to invite the following organisations to assess or comment on an application:

• The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) – for an assessment of the impact on aviation safety and shielding
• Airservices Australia – for assessments of proposals resulting in a penetration of the PANS-OPS surface or temporary redirection of flight paths
• Aviation stakeholders/users 

The stakeholder’s responses will then be reviewed, and a decision is made. From which the applicant will be formally notified of the decision. Duration of this process may take up to 10 weeks, or greater in the event that approval is required by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

The Type A chart is an ICAO chart which identifies information on all significant obstacles within the take-off area of an aerodrome up to 10 km from the end of the runway. 

You can request a copy of the Type A Chart by emailing airspaceprotection@gcal.com.au

For further information you can contact airspaceprotection@gcal.com.au or phone +61 7 5589 1100.